1. Implementation of SEND Reforms – National Update
Working Together for Children with SEN:
SEND Conference
Friday 29 September 2017, Barnsley
André Imich,
SEN and Disability Professional Adviser, DfE

2. What does successful implementation of the SEND reforms look like?
2. All parties meet their statutory duties
1. Co-production with children, young people and parents
3. Increased satisfaction with access to local services
8. Improved parental confidence
4. Accurate and timely identification of SEN and disability
7. More YP go on to post-16 education, training & employment
5. Improved attainment and narrowing of gap for CYP with SEND
6. Strong focus on those at SEN Support

3. SEN Profile

4. The position as at January 2017
Increased demand for EHC Plans - over 8,000 more plans issued in compared to 2015
There are now more than 30,000 statements/ EHCPs in the system than last year

5. Mainstream/ Special Placements (May 2017)
A small drop in numbers of EHC Plans or statements in mainstream education; an increase in special school places – now roughly 50:50

6. Further key data, May 2017
Number of EHC plans issued within 20 weeks remains broadly stable at around 60% (compared to 2015)
The transfer from statements to EHC plans is on track – at Jan 2017, EHC Plans made up 61% of the stock of all statutory plans
1,886 mediation cases held during Of these, 477 (25.3%) were followed by appeals to the tribunal.

7. Key points for SEN Support
Schools should take seriously any concerns raised by a parent
Schools should Assess the pupil’s needs, Plan appropriate support, Do what has been planned and Review the pupil’s progress in response to support
Schools should have arrangements in place to draw on more specialised assessments from external agencies and professionals
The school should obtain a wide range of evidence including the views and experience of parents, the pupil’s own views and, if relevant, advice from external support services
Where outside professionals in education, health or care are not already working with school staff, the SENCO should contact them only if the parents agree

8. Making SEN Support work - Local authority
LAs must set out the responsibilities for special educational provision made from school, early years and post-16
Clear arrangements for accessing support services, e.g. EPs; CAMHS; specialist teachers; therapists
SENCO and class teacher, with specialists, involving the pupil’s parents - focus on evidence-based effective teaching approaches, equipment, strategies and interventions.
Support systems for SENCOs

9. A Good Education Health and Care (EHC) plan
Meets the requirements of the Act, regs and the Code.
Is produced in 20 weeks
Is co-produced
Sets good, relevant outcomes
Describes positively what children and YP can do
Can only be as good as the advice received during the assessment

10. Person-centred reporting in assessments - S19 Implications
All involved in assessment must:
seek and take account of the views of parent, child and young person;
enable/ facilitate access to the assessment process – locations, timings;
consider the long-term future for the child/ young person;
write assessments in ways that are understandable.

11. Specialist advice and information should:
Be clear, accessible and specific;
Provide advice about outcomes relevant for the child or YP’s age and phase of education, and strategies for their achievement.
LAs can provide guidance about the structure and format of advice and information to be provided.
Professionals should limit their advice to areas in which they have expertise.
Can comment on the amount of provision a child or YP requires – must be specific and quantified

12. What are families saying about their experience of EHCPs?
Survey of 13,500 parents/YP who received EHC plan
in 2015.
66% were satisfied with the overall process of getting an EHC plan
62% agreed the help and support set out in the EHC plan will achieve the outcomes agreed
67% agreed their plan improved the child or young person’s experience of education
62% of those whose EHC plan addressed health needs
62% agreed it has improved the child/young person’s health or wellbeing.

13. The process of getting a plan
Two thirds of parents and YP were satisfied with the overall process of getting an EHC plan.
Half found that starting the EHC plan process was easy;
One quarter found this to be difficult.
(Other research shows that 96% of final EHC plans are accepted without appeal)

14. Parents and young people who received an EHC plan in 20 weeks were more likely to report that:
involvement was very easy/easy
reaching agreement on the needs and support described in the EHC plan was much easier
the time and work that they had to invest was reasonable.
communication about the EHC plan was always or mostly clear throughout the process
that different professionals and services worked together
assessment staff were knowledgeable
their views were included in the EHC plan
the plan will achieve the agreed outcomes

15. % of EHC plan completed in 20 weeks during 2016
England
58.6%
(10 LAs – 100%;
35 LAs > 90%;
58 LAs > 85%)

16. What parents want to experience during EHC plan processes
To see their child’s needs being recognised and met so the child/ young person had as good a chance as possible of a fulfilling life
To be in good communication with professionals/workers dealing with their child/young person’s case
To be listened to and have their views taken on board – or at least be respectfully included in discussion around ‘next best’ options
To interact with staff who know and apply SEND law and principles and who understand good practice
To interact with staff who show understanding and empathy of the lived reality of caring for a child/young person with complex SEND

17. Parent carers reporting
How well joint commissioning arrangements between education, health and social care work (June 2017 survey)
LAs reporting
Parent carers reporting
Education partners
89%
53%
Health
74%
36%
Social care
82%
33%

18. Parent carers reporting
Children, young people and parents are fully or largely in making decisions about their own SEND provision
LAs reporting
Parent carers reporting
Children
50%
24%
Young people
67%
34%
Parents
84%
55%

19. Parent carers reporting
Children, young people and parents are fully or largely in strategic planning and co-production of SEND services
LAs reporting
Parent carers reporting
Children
20%
10%
Young people
40%
19%
Parents
84%
64%

20. Progress with 20 weeks and transfers - From local area inspections (since May 2017)
High proportion of new EHC plans completed within 20 weeks AND the local area is well on track to complete all transfers by April Cambridgeshire - Gateshead - Halton - Northamptonshire - Telford and Wrekin - Brent - Bury - Wakefield - Cornwall - Rutland

21. Fixed- term exclusions
Permanent exclusions
0.32% of pupils on SEN support received a permanent exclusion in 2015/16 compared to 0.17% of pupils with statements or EHCPs and 0.05% of pupils with no SEN.
Permanent exclusion of those with SEN but no statement or EHC Plan at highest level
Children with autism are 9 times more likely to be permanently excluded than any other child
Fixed- term exclusions
5.93% of pupils on SEN support received a fixed period exclusion in 2015/16 compared to 6.30% of pupils with statements or EHCPs and 1.46% of pupils with no SEN

22. Exclusions – Inspection reports
Cambridgeshire (2017) – Improvements in support for CYP who display challenging behaviour…..local area leaders and school leaders working together…permanent exclusions of CYP with SEND reduced by ¾ in a year
Trafford (2017) - Effective systems in place to avoid the permanent exclusion of CYP with SEN. As a result, the number of such pupils who are permanently excluded is low.
Greenwich (2017) - No permanent exclusions for pupils who have SEND in primary schools. Rates of fixed-term exclusions reducing overall, particularly for pupils without EHC plans.

23. Children and young people’s mental health green paper
DoH and DfE working jointly on a green paper; published by end of year.
To include proposals to promote effective activity in areas from increasing the focus on prevention through improved access to specialist services, and the role of social media.
Looks to learn from existing joint working and schools/CAMHS link pilots and capture ways to bring together different professionals with different expertise to deliver support.
We know EPs were involved with a number of the pilots (Evaluation:
Prime Minister 9 Jan 2017
“I want us to employ the power of government as a force for good to transform the way we deal with mental health problems right across society, and at every stage of life. …
“I want us to forge a new approach recognising our responsibility to each other, and make mental illness an everyday concern for all of us and in every one of our institutions.”

24. Working together – Evidence from local area inspections
Trafford: Agencies work closely together to identify needs and then provide the required support... Joint commissioning between healthcare services and LA is well established…. positive impact on the provision of services such as health visiting and school nursing.
Bolton: A single pathway to identifying children’s and young people’s education, health and care needs and their onward referral to agencies is streamlined and effective.
Greenwich: Leaders from health, education and social care services work together efficiently when planning and budgeting for services.
Gloucestershire: Education, health and social care professionals work well together as a strong team to deliver their vision of providing high- quality services.. Health professionals are regularly present in local strategic and operational panels to influence and inform decision-making.

25. Working together at the strategic level – Key opportunities
Working more closely/ co-producing strategy and policy with parents, children and young people
Improved identification of SEND needs across the local area population and ensuring appropriate provision and placements in place
Ensuring access to provision is based on need
Planning preventatively for those at most risk – e.g. exclusions, LAC, at risk of ATU placements
Breaking down children/ adult service barriers
Joining up the post-18/ 19 priorities

26. Working together at “the front-line” – Key opportunities
Working more closely/ co-producing with parents, children and young people
High quality assessment, with clear recommendations for provision that works
Y9 transfer review
Supporting those at most risk – e.g. exclusions, LAC, at risk of ATU placements
Multi-agency work to support mental health
Post-16/ post-19 joint work